END OF SUMMER BONFIRE------------ werewolves only.

[*Casimir Goetschl]

He was coming.

Nearly sixty days or so days had passed since the last time Casimir Goetschl had stepped foot on his homelands soil. It had been almost three full months since the events of New York took place, events that not just impacted Casimir himself but shook the London Coven and New York Pack to their core. In a single night, in a stunt performed by a Vampire and her Kin, everything Casimir Goetschl once knew and once believed in was turned upside down. In a single night, Goetschl had gone from the most favored pet of Aubrey Mayor to being marked for death. In a single night, Goetschl had gone from an uneasy alliance with the New York Pack to being banished from the City, forbidden from ever speaking to anyone within Josef Abad's pack. Funny, though, that no one could have ever seen the animal that had been hidden away inside Goetschl. In one night, Casimir had gone from human... to wolf. In one night, Casimir Goetschl's destiny, his path, was forever changed in a reign of blood and trauma that had an effect on him that no one could have expected.

Casimir Goetschl could not feel.

He felt physically, that was not a problem but it was the emotional. The aspect of mental feelings themselves which threw him off. At first, it was foreign to him. Not being able to feel anything for anyone. Where as he would have grieved, pained and been distraught over the deaths of his parents, the events of New York had taken it away. He had wondered whether this... side effect... was permanent or if a imaginary blanket had been pulled over him, ready to be pulled back to give him what he had lost. That was the question that had begun to be answered in recent days.

Most wolves knew Casimir Goetschl, the former Pet to Aubrey Mayor and active Federal Agent had tracked down another wolf, learned and studied from a mysterious wolfess but very few knew it was Sombra Delgadillo. Goetschl spent two weeks with the Alphess. What specifically took place between them, what was discussed and what was taught was kept between them. Whatever it was, it had a deep impact on Casimir and it had brought out the... more dominate side of him. The Animal that had always been but never surfaced. That, mixed with his ability of not being able to feel emotion was a dangerous combination that allowed the Wolf to think with absolute clarity. Yet, even now, as he and two of his packmates made their way to the bonfire, he found himself asking himself the question. Could he feel? Sombra had made an impact on Casimir though as he walked and picked up the scents of various wolves, he grew disappointed? Was he disappointed that he did not pick up her scent? A breif falter in his demeanor caught the attention of Saya.

"So when are we going to know more of this mystery wolf?" Night was blunt and strait to the point about almost anything. She knew Casimir had been mentored by an Alphess in the states and was curious was to know whom she was. Goetschl would not speak of her in London, in fact the only time he ever spoke of this mystery wolf was when he made a reference to his own change and the issues that occurred after it. Still, Saya was smart enough to know that Goetschl's demeanor changed when he thought or or hinted at this mystery wolfess. She noted the subtle stiffness in Goetschl that her question caused, "Surely your pack deserves to know who this other dominate is. If she's influenced you then whats to say she won't influen...." No more than had she finished half the word than had Casimir shoved his forearm across her throat and shoved her into the nearest trees. The force he exerted across her throat ensured she remained silent. Though she had been an Alpha at one point in the London Packs history, she was not any longer and knew she had to show more respect that what she just gave Casimir.

Several seconds passed as wolf stared down wolf. Casimir's expression remained blank, still and as of stone. Saya's was a mixture of surprise, anger and fear. Night hated, absolutely hated being dominated while at the same time she recognized Casimir's physical strength and his field specific training. He could snap her in half with little effort if he so chose to. "I will make one thing clear; no one influences me or my pack," the question Casimir had to ask himself was if Sombra still did? He was an Alpha himself but what he and Sombra knew of each other now... clearing the thoughts, he continued, "any hint of that again and it wont be a simple shove against a tree the next time." Saya was his Beta. His second. She got the same respect she showed Casimir. "Now let's go."

"There are six or seven." Sarah spoke, coming back down the direction they were headed. Moments earlier, she had picked up her pace to scout ahead. As soon as the confrontation between Saya and Casimir began, she had rushed ahead. Mendrin knew when to make her leave and it was probably best to just take a glance ahead. "Two males, four or five females. I can't be too sure on the specific number."

Goetschl removed his arm from across Saya's neck, gave Sarah a glance before turning to Saya, "Do we have an understanding?"

Night nodded. She adjusted her sundress, green and yellow with brown sandals. Looser fitting clothes were best on her while Sarah simply wore jeans and a shirt. Both wolves knew of Casimir's past. In fact, before his change, every wolf that survived Aubrey Mayors wrath and went into hiding knew that Casimir Goetschl was another threat. A trained agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he had been charged with tracking and maintaining order between Vampires and Wolves in western Europe. When he became Aubrey's little pet, Wolves wanted him dead. Saya, herself, had tracked Casimir on several occasions, following him about England as he went on his various assignments, yet no one could have seen what would happen in New York. Though the specifics of how the change happened or who did it, the rumor that Aubreys pet had been changed into a wolf spread like a uncontrolled wildfire. Wolves heard of it, especially in Ireland and the United Kingdom and felt a since of uneasy joy as a subtle, small yet very painful prick into Aubrey Mayors frigid personal life was made. Even Mayor was susceptible to being screwed with. Strangely enough, after whatever Goetschl had done with Sombra, whatever she did or taught him, Casimir made his way back to London where he reformed the London Pack, though he made one thing very clear.

They were not starting a war with Aubrey Mayor or her Coven.

This pack would retaliate and attack as needed, to ensure their survival. His idea, radical and dangerous, was accepted by the former members of the Pack though Saya had been the most reluctant to simply hand the reigns over to Goetschl. Casimir wanted to make the Wolf pack public, out in the open for other wolves and Vampires too see. The last time that happened, they had been systematically targeted and torn apart. Yet Casimir had access to things and support mechanisms that Saya never would. He had the backing of an entire government behind him and with little more than a phone call, he could bring hell upon anyone who wronged him. Still, there was that animalistic side of him, the one that was briefly shown when he forearmed Saya into a tree. That side was untapped and raw power, rarely shown yet easily sensed from him and as both Sarah and Saya glanced at one another, acknowledging the appeal of the Alpha as the trio made their way to the end of the path.

"You two go socialize." Casimir said, his eyes immediately hitting the lake.

Sarah motioned towards area that the smells of cooking food were simmering from, "Grub." She laughed.

Saya kept her eyes on Casimir, watching the movements of his face as his nostrils flared, testing the air, trying to locate something. 'He still must be trying to find her.' Night thought before following Sarahs trail. Goetschl himself had no real intention of socializing. In fact he only came to make a small appearance. He hated social gatherings and in fact always did. Most undoubtedly people would be here, looking for quick woofy booty before going on about their business. Pessimistic at best, Goetschl thought of gatherings as nothing but a prime way to try and eliminate as many wolves at one time. His icy blue's glanced back and forth. Sarah was right. He counted six bodies, the scents on the air were too mingled to identity which scent belonged too whom but it did not really matter. The one he sought was not here. Fifteen minutes would be the most he would spend. Make his appearance, make some profanity about Vampires which would undoubtedly reach someone undeads ears and a fight would soon occur. Funny how even walking dead had egos, though they were no match to a wolves.

His opinion had already been made up. The men gathered were probably talking themselves up in some fascist manner, proclaiming how strong they were or what adventures they had gone on while the women were either skeptical or easily gobbling it up. He shook his head before turning his attention back to the water. There were some ways he could ensure Sombra knew that Casimir had come back to the states, it was obvious that breaking into her home would not always be the best way to announce his presence but telling a massive fib here, who knew what wrath she would unleash upon him. Still the agent, wearing nothing more than a simple vest, khaki pants with mountain boots intertwined his arms across his chest, his clean shaven face glancing across the water. His shield, normally worn on display was tucked in his wallet which rested in his front left pocket. The Sig Sauer P226 firearm tucked inbetween the small of his back and his pants. Goetschl learned, rather horribly, to never forget to carry his sidearm.

Giving a second glance to his side, he spotted Sarah and Saya sitting on an overturned log, munching on various meats and vegetables. They irritated him at times, got under his skin; especially Richard who had opted to stay back in London with the others but they were still his pack. They were still his responsibility to protect, to look after and he would do anything and everything to ensure their safety. They may have hated him, not fully trusted him; which was understandable but so long as they did nothing to challenge his authority, they were safe.

No one could have anticipated the turn Casimir's life would have taken in recent months and it all began because of New York... the state he now stood in once again.

Location: Lake edge
Mood: Bored and Unimpressed.
Word Count: 1870

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

There were other wolves that were going to be too close for comfort. Josef Ibn-Abad had to make an appearance at this bonfire, if for no other reason that to ensure that no one got the bright idea of trying to move in on his turf. New York City had been his home for years and Abad had formed the second largest pack known in the world; second in size only to Paris. He was known for his intellect and even more so for his anger. Syrians could rival anyone when it came to a temper but today would call for no such thing. Today he had no interest in fighting on a show. Abad would be on his best behavior as this opportunity would allow him the chance to scope out those he had never met before. He'd arrived some time earlier, catching the first few peoples arrival, though he remained off to the side of the defined area of the bonfire. His scent was on the air as was there so there was no use in trying to hide. Wolves had spectacular senses, especially when it came to smell. Females mostly, though there were two males that had arrived and by all accounts, they were not dominate themselves.

Ibn-Abad could spot a dominate and how they worked. Alpha's were different, were reserved, were quiet. They did not act outlandishly and commanded respect when their presence was felt. Abad had been the only Alpha to come until... he had not seen her until her scent seemed to momentarily separate itself from the others. Inora Makani, the inheritor to Adam Vagus Hollywood pack. The Alpha's of North America and Western Europe knew each other... or at least heard of each other. Inora was young to the Alpha game but she was making herself known. She commanded the respect of her pack which meant she automatically got the respect of other Alpha's. Still he kept himself away. Adela had not arrived and by all accounts, given the aftermath of New York, Josef did not push it. He told Adela he was coming but if she chose not too that would be her decision but he was obligated to be here.

Times had been hard for Abad, especially when it came to his family. With the aftermath of the events of New York, nearly being killed himself, his wife nearly being killed and with what Casimir had done to his wife... He shook his head as outrage raced through his body. It was Goetschl's fault that his wife had been abducted. Had the government learned to just stay away then nothing would have happened. Because of the government, his life nearly ended. Taking a new glance at the area of socialization, Abad spotted two more females who were unfamiliar to him but his gaze soon turned towards the lake edge as he spotted Casimir.

A loud, harsh, rigid rummbling erupted from Josefs chest as his growl began. He wanted nothing more than to go after Casimir and all that had wronged him and his pack. Still, Abad was not stupid. Even he knew Casimir was not the ignorant human he had been. The man had been changed, the man was now a wolf and if everything he heard about London was correct; that former human had formed himself a pack. Interesting, it truly was. How someone who was a Pet could muster enough courage to claim a pack. He was an Alpha, it appeared but did he deserve the same respect from Josef that the Syrian would show Inora? Absolutely... not.

For now, Abad would keep to himself. To observe and watch the others. His presence was already known but he felt no obligation to go form chit chat with some random individual.

Not everyone was a social butterfly.

[jezza]

“For god’s sake will you stop drooling on the window!” Jezza pulled hard on the steering wheel, knocking the great wolf who had been snorting and huffing rather loudly on the side window of the old, battered car, directly into it with a thump and a whine. Dmitri was bored, he hated long car journeys, the seats were uncomfortable, he couldn’t stretch out and worst of all, his brother got all serious because he wasn’t a good driver.

Dmitri had always been the driver, always, well, until he’d been bitten and now he was lucky if he could keep some thumbs for more than ten minutes, and paws weren’t conducive to good driving. He’d tried it once and found that he could almost steer but the pedals were far beyond the reach of his back paws, leaving him sitting in a very uncomfortable position with his paws stuck. Besides, he’d nearly chewed off the gear stick trying to put it out of neutral and that had not pleased his human brother who had a thing about slobber, especially cleaning it off things.

Which was the exact reason Dmitri had been drooling on the window whenever his brother looked busy with other things, making himself productive by making a mess off the car, his favourite past time. The old MK1 Ford Cortina was a state, more a bucket of rust than a car, the blue paint beginning to flick off with age, the interior slightly ruined by overexcited claws and a great deal of rubbish from long journeys. Right now it had three bones rolling around the passenger footwell, placed there carefully by Jezza in an attempt to lure his brother off the leather seats and to lie on the floor.

Dmitri prided himself on not being so easily lured, the bones rolling back and fourth slowly, rocking, the scent of meat drifting up and... pounce. He was in the footwell and chewing on what looked like a cow femur, cracking and creaking of gristle as his horrifically powerful teeth tore into the bone. His tail wagged madly as he stretched out, grinding hard on the bone, holding it between two paws while he got the end in his mouth and chewed. ‘Bloody werewolf bite... chewing on fucking bones all day like I’d a bloody pet dog... it is a good bone though...’ His thoughts trailed off onto the viability of bones while Jezza smiled, satisfied in his plan, speeding up along the road.

Their journey had been a fairly long one, but they’d heard about it in the city and had been curious. It wasn’t often that they had heard about werewolves congregating, they didn’t know many at all, and well it was a chance for a free meal perhaps. Semi formal dress was required which Jezza had managed to stick to, fairly smart and clean looking, but the best he could do for his brother was to give him a good brush and cut off some of the longer hair that really got in the way. Hell, Dmitri had a habit of shedding fur in all the wrong places, meaning that wherever they lived ended up with fur in all of the appliances, the fridge, everything. And he didn’t have a good concept of personal space, meaning he often rolled around in Jezza’s bed, just because he wanted to, leaving the thing a mess. It would teach Jez to go and work.

But their last flat was left behind for an interesting evening away it seemed, fur covered bed forgotten for the moment, the only real concern that they wouldn’t let his brother in, but after all they were werewolves; they should understand. Following the winding road had been easy and it didn’t take him long to see a few other parked cars, not far away from a tent in the middle of a green, open and inviting, people already moving around on the inside.

A sharp squeal of brakes announced the end to their journey, Dmitri flinching on the floor at the sound before he dropped his bone and pulled himself out of the foot put and onto the chair, , clumsily opening the door with his paw, scratching at the leather. Or he tried to, but yet again Jezza had forgotten to take the child lock off, a security measure after an incident where Dmitri accidentally opened the door and nearly fell out. He was left whining and scratching at the door until Jezza opened his own. In a rush, Dmitri flew over Jezza’s knees and jumped out onto the grass, bouncing about in relief to be out of the car, stretching his four long and well muscled limbs out, tail wagging as he waited for Jezza to lock the door.

In only a few moments the pair were walking away from the car and toward the tent, Dmitri’s demeanour changing instantly from excitable pup to a stern and dangerous hunter with a gleam in his eye, proud and fierce. Other people were here, it wouldn’t do to let the side down. The two of them entered the tent cautiously, Jezza glancing around at the other figures with a mix of apprehension and concern while Dmitri trotted right in as though he owned the place, glancing around at the other figures with those dark, intelligent eyes. ‘Come on, throw me out then...’ A challenge, though he doubted if anyone really would.

[*Saya Night]

In the world of wolves, the cocky were easily seen, easily predicted... easily spotted. It should not have been a surprise to see some wolves come in as though they were hot shit, given the type of event and species it was meant for. A bonfire for wolves was surely to draw the strong, the timid... and the outright morons who needed to learn their place. So when the wolf strode his way in, eyeing each person as though issuing a silent challenge, Saya set her plate of grilled vegetables and ribs down, wiped her mouth with her napkin, leaned forward and stared directly back at the wolf. Coming into a place like this, with every other wolf in their human for, while he was his wolf self was asking for a fight and his demenour, his actions and the aura of attitude the wolf showed simply begged to be beaten from him. She was not an Alpha anymore, having lost that rank when Casimir had come to London but she could still hold her own in a fight.

"It's rather rude to stare down people like you have done, boy." Saya sneered. "I suggest you get out of here, check your attitude and then reenter when you realize your not top shit at this bonfire." Where there people stronger than Saya here? Undoubtedly. Saya knew right off the bat that Inora held a iron demenour that it was not immediately visible like it was in Cas and other wolves. Still it was there. Had Saya not challenged this... newcomer right back and had he fronted Inora... he would have been in for much more of a hurt. It was the quieter wolves people needed to worry about. Regardless, Inora was not involved, nor was any other wolf... yet.

"So how about you go piss on a tree and chase some squirrels." Her chest wanted to let out a rumble, a low warning growl yet with Sarah and Casimir near, she knew she had support. "If you join us... you join us civily. No ones tried challenging anyone here thus far and you won't be ruining that." Saya felt challenged, as though some has been male was trying to force his will upon her. If there was one thing she hated most, it was men who thought they could bully anyone... men and women around simply cause of what they thought they were.

This boy would learn real quick... respect was only given when it was shown and so far he had shown absolutely none to those gathered here. In a matter of mere seconds, this boy wolf had issued a challenge... a challenge that had been accepted. She flared her nostrils, taking in his timber musk. It had a younger feel to it. Young meant stupid. Young meant ignorant. Young meant foolish.

[jezza]

Dmitri’s dark, patchy eyes turned to the figure of a female who had eyed him up, seeing the scorn on her face and matching it with a contempt of his own, though it was difficult to read such a human emotion on the face of the wolf, if it wasn’t for his tail slowing it’s swish to a jerky movement, then finally stopping, ears first tipping forward then flattening against his head as she drew closer. But Dmitri wasn’t the only one who had spotted the purposeful movement. Jezza’s eyes had scanned more nervously, his manner lacking the angry confidence that his brother exuded, instead allowing for a more polite exchange, if in any other situation.

Drawing closer to Dmitri, Jezza lowered a hand into the thick fur and grasped the young male’s ruff rather too hard, feeling the rumbling growl issuing deep within the wolven chest. The words sent down with the intent of infuriating the male were doing their work, at least on Dmitri, the hot tempered one, but Jezza wasn’t about to let go yet, hauling the wolf back somewhat when he felt the shape move to slink forward.

“I’m sorry about my brother, he’s not the friendliest.” He muttered, pushing down on Dmitri’s back in an attempt to remind the male where they were. “He’s feeling awkward... sorry about him. He’s not good at entrances, especially when he’s stuck like this.” Jezza tried to explain, feeling his brother writhe beneath his grip and turn his anger up toward him.

Dmitri wasn’t about to have his brother making up feelings for him, regardless of whatever truth in them there might be, if someone wanted to have an argument with him, well they’d better be willing to do it on his level or it would get all the more physical. Which was exactly why Jezza was gripping him so tightly, fingers holding so hard that they stung. But Dmitri’s anger being focussed on Jezza was an improvement, the angry young werewolf wouldn’t be likely to go off it with Jezza, at least do no more than give him a nip, but in a roomful of strangers the werewolf would be more panicky.

“Please, don’t tempt him to chase squirrels, he’ll disappear all night...” Jezza chuckled, trying to make light of the situation, feeling the movements of the wolf beside him decrease as Dmitri cooled off a little, or at least stopped struggling against the powerful grasp of his brother.